What is the main purpose of the Bill of Rights?

The main purpose of the Bill of Rights is to protect individual liberties. Ratified in 1791, the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution were designed specifically to safeguard the fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals against potential government overreach. These amendments ensure protections for various rights, including freedom of speech, religion, assembly, and the right to bear arms, among others.

This focus on individual liberties served as a response to concerns that the new federal government might infringe upon the rights of citizens, particularly in the wake of the American Revolution. By explicitly enumerating these rights, the Bill of Rights plays a crucial role in American democracy, acting as a cornerstone for civil liberties and a framework for interpreting the relationship between the government and the individual.

This emphasis on individual rights is what distinguishes the Bill of Rights from options that relate to government structure or state powers; the latter do not primarily address the protection of personal freedoms, which is the fundamental purpose behind the Bill of Rights.